In brief: Two hospitalized in head-on crash

Spokane firefighters and police responded to a two-vehicle accident that hospitalized two drivers Thursday.

Witnesses of the 3 p.m. accident said a young man was speeding the wrong way on Southeast Boulevard in a Honda CRV when he struck a FedEx delivery truck head on, mangling both vehicles and scattering debris around the scene.

The Honda’s driver was extricated and airlifted to a hospital with life-threatening injuries; the FedEx driver was also hospitalized, but authorities do not believe his injuries are life threatening, said Officer Jennifer DeRuwe, Spokane police spokeswoman.

Their names have not been released and the crash remained under investigation Thursday night.

Southeast Boulevard from 29th Avenue to Regal Street was closed as investigators processed the scene, causing heavy congestion in the area.

Arrests made in Safeway robbery

Two men were arrested Wednesday in connection with a robbery at a west Spokane grocery store Tuesday.

Police say Frank Uhyrek, 35, walked into the Safeway at 1616 Northwest Blvd. about 5:15 Tuesday wearing a ski mask. He grabbed a cashier, held a knife to her chest and demanded money from her cash register, according to a news release. When she was unable to comply, he demanded money from other cashiers before fleeing the store.

He got into a white Honda, which then drove away. Witnesses got the license plate number, which police used to locate the car near the West Wynn Motel on Wednesday.

The Honda’s owner, Charles D. Stanfield, 38, told police he met a man at the House of Charity who suggested they rob the store, according to a probable cause affidavit. Stanfield said he drove the man, later identified as Uhyrek, to the store and watched him put a ski mask on. He said Uhyrek came running across the street minutes later holding a large amount of cash as two men chased him.

Stanfield and Uhyrek each were booked into the Spokane County Jail on seven charges of first-degree robbery.